Unit 3
Title: The Dog of Pompeii
Suggested Time: 7 days (45 minutes per day)
Common Core ELA Standards: RL.6.1, RL.6.2, RL.6.3, RL.6.4, RL.6.9; W.6.2, W.6.4, W.6.9; SL.6.1; L.6.1, L.6.2, L.6.4, L.6.5

Teacher Instructions.
Preparing for Teaching
1. Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis. Please do not read this to the students. This is a description for teachers about the big ideas and key understanding that students should take away after completing this task. Big Ideas and Key Understandings Companionship demonstrates great loyalty and risk for a true friend. Synopsis The Dog of Pompeii centers on a blind boy, Tito, and his dog, Bimbo, his life-long devoted companion during A.D. 79 in the city of Pompeii. Bimbo is crucial to Tito’s survival because he brings him along the city, provides food for him, and keeps him safe from harm. During the course of the story, a volcano erupts and causes mass panic and death. Bimbo risks and loses his life to save his beloved companion.
2. Read the entire selection, keeping in mind the Big Ideas and Key Understandings.
3. Re-read the text while noting the stopping points for the Text Dependent Questions and teaching Tier II/academic vocabulary.
During Teaching
1. Students read the entire selection independently.
2. Teacher reads the text aloud while students follow along or students take turns reading aloud to each other. Depending on the text length and student need, the teacher may choose to read the full text or a passage aloud. For a particularly complex text, the teacher may choose to reverse the order of steps 1 and 2.
3. Students and teacher re-read the text while stopping to respond to and discuss the questions, continually returning to the text. A variety of methods can be used to structure the reading and discussion (i.e., whole class discussion, think-pair-share, independent written response, group work, etc.)

Text Dependent Questions

|Text-dependent Questions |Evidence-based Answers |
|The setting of the story is introduced. Using evidence from the text, explain how being blind |It would be difficult to be blind while living in Pompeii because Tito lived on the streets. |
|affects Tito while living in Pompeii? |The streets were “lively with shining chariots”, “laughing crowds”, “sham battles and athletic |
| |sports” and “fireworks”. |
|Read the details about the forum. What does the description tell you about life in Pompeii? |The fact that everyone gathers—rich and poor, priests, politicians, servants, children—shows |
| |that Pompeii has many different classes and professions and that they all meet together in the |
| |forum. |
|The author uses the word “ambitious.” What does the word “ambitious” mean? How does its usage|Ambitious means to get things done before anyone else because it says they “rebuilt the whole |
|affect the meaning of the text? |town…within a dozen years.” Pompeii wanted to outdo the other two towns. The connotation |
| |indicates Pompeii was aggressive in the rebuilding. |
|Describe what it means to be “hurried by fear” drawing on evidence from the text. How does |People are becoming a wave of mass hysteria. They are crying out like animals, and running |
|its usage affect the meaning of the text? |around like crazy people. It indicates that chaos is approaching and it demonstrates the |
| |impetuousness of the people. |
|The author uses several similes and metaphors to describe the volcano erupting and the reaction|Simile, “A dozen times they almost upset baskets of sweets and jars of Vesuvian wine, said to |
|of the people. What is the effect of using figurative language rather than just stating what is|be as fiery as the streams inside the volcano, and a dozen times they were cursed and cuffed.” |
|happening? |The effect leaves the reader understanding and visualizing the fear the people are feeling. It |
| |helps the reader understand the mass hysteria that is happening due to the volcano erupting. It|
| |also helps the reader feel what Tito is feeling as he is trying to find safety. |
|What attitude do you think the people of Pompeii have about their city? Use evidence from the |They are proud of their city because they were “ambitious.” They also refuse to heed the |
|text to support your answer. |warnings of the stranger. They take a risk by building their town in the same spot that an |
| |earthquake hit and do not believe that the earthquake could happen again in the same spot. |
|How does Bimbo’s reaction after the celebration reveal something has changed? What does this |Bimbo pulls Tito somewhere, he nags him to wake up, his tail is spinny fast, he was “unusually |
|change signal to the reader? |active and thumped his bit.” This change in behavior signals to the reader Bimbo seems to know |
| |there is danger. |
|Which details show you how the eruption has affected the forum and the town? |“the sounds of crashing, crackling, roaring, and exploding” |
| |“falling houses” |
| |“The ground of the forum…beginning to rock, then to pitch, then to split” |
| |“the collapse of the Temple of Jupiter” |
|If you were to describe the relationship between Tito and Bimbo in one word, what would it be? |The relationship can be described as loyal because he helps the boy survive. Tito helps him by|
|Explain using evidence from the text? |guiding him throughout the city. He bites at his feet to keep him moving. |
|What is the theme of the text? Cite words or phrases that develop the theme throughout the |Theme: A true friend remains loyal even when times are rough. Evidence: Bimbo finds food for |
|text. |Tito every day. Bimbo sleeps lightly to protect Tito. Bimbo helps Tito avoid the charioteers |
| |during the celebrations of Caesar’s birthday. Bimbo forces Tito to go to the sea gate during |
| |the disaster, even though his own life is in danger. Bimbo goes to get food for Tito after they|
| |arrive at the beach. |
|Use evidence from the text to explain why Bimbo, Tito’s loyal companion, would bite his master?|According to the text, Tito could not go on. He staggered and fell. Bimbo tried several ways to|
| |get his master up and walking again. He coaxed, licked his hands, feet, and face and biting was|
| |his last resort to lead his master to safety. |
|Explain how the relationship between Tito and Bimbo differs from that of a normal dog/boy |Bimbo searches for food for the Tito. Tito provides companionship for Bimbo. Tito benefits more|
|relationship? Who benefits more from the relationship? How does this relationship develop the|from the relationship because he is fed and led by Bimbo through the busy streets of Pompeii. |
|theme of the text? |Tito benefits from the relationship. Since the theme of the text revolves around loyalty and |
| |risk, Bimbo shows his loyalty by gathering food for Tito after they arrive at the beach. |

Tier II/Academic Vocabulary
| |These words require less time to learn |These words require more time to learn |
| |(They are concrete or describe an object/event/ |(They are abstract, have multiple meanings, are a part |
| |process/characteristic that is familiar to students) |of a word family, or are likely to appear again in future texts) |
|Meaning |comrade |quarters |
|can be |stodgy |ambitious |
|learned |murmur |thin |
|from |rival |keen |
|context |promenade |pitch |
| |ceased |heed |
| |bewildered |heaving |
| |thronging |jarred |
| |excavators | |
|Meaning |macellum |sacrifices |
|needs to |altar |bazaar |
|be |peculiar |proverb |
|provided |bellowed |mock |
| |sacred |coaxed |

Culminating Writing Task • Prompt After reading “The Dog of Pompeii,” develop a one-page expository essay explaining how Bimbo’s actions convey loyalty and risk. Include evidence from the text, including direct quotes and page numbers. • Teacher Instructions 1. Students identify their writing task from the prompt provided. 2. Students complete an evidence chart as a pre-writing activity. Teachers should guide students in gathering and using any relevant notes they compiled while reading and answering the text-dependent questions earlier. Some students will need a good deal of help gathering this evidence, especially when this process is new and/or the text is challenging!

|Evidence |Elaboration / explanation of how this evidence supports ideas or argument |
|Quote or paraphrase | |
|“It was a fixed routine, a custom understood between boy and dog since the |Most animals simply take care of the needs of themselves or offspring. This |
|beginning of their friendship, and the way it worked was this….” |evidence proves Bimbo was loyal to Tito’s needs. |
| | |
|“There was plenty of everything in Pompeii if you knew where to find it – | |
|and if you had a dog like Bimbo.” | |
|“Tito and Bimbo were among the merrymakers, dodging the charioteers who |Bimbo assures that Tito is safe from the charioteers by helping him avoid |
|shouted at them. Tito never missed a footing. He was thankful for his keen|their path. He risks his life ensuring Tito’s safety. |
|ears and quick instinct-most thankful of all for Bimbo.” | |
| | |
|“Then suddenly, he understood. Bimbo was telling him the way out-urging him|Bimbo guides Tito in the direction of safety from disaster. Bimbo bites Tito|
|there. The sea gate, or course. The sea gate – and then the sea.” |to wake him up and keep him moving toward safety. Tito risked his life to |
| |keep Bimbo alive, never leaving his side. This demonstrates loyalty. |
|“In a moment Bimbo was beside him. He coaxed. But there was no answer. He| |
|licked Tito’s hands, his feet, his face. The boy did not stir. Then Bimbo | |
|did the last thing he could – the last thing he wanted to do. He bit his | |
|comrade, bit him deep in the arm. With a cry of pain, Tito jumped to his | |
|beet, Bimbo after him.” | |
|“No. It must have come from this bakery. You know it looks to me like some|Bimbo went to the bakery to find food. This shows that Bimbo was still |
|sort of cake hardened with the years. And, bless me, if those little black |thinking of Tito at the end and that his love for Tito was so strong that he |
|pebbles aren’t’ raisins. A raisin cake almost two thousand years old! I |went back where he knew it was dangerous, risking his life for his friend. |
|wonder what made him want it at such a moment.” | |
| | |

3. Once students have completed the evidence chart, they should look back at the writing prompt in order to remind themselves what kind of response they are writing (i.e. expository, analytical, argumentative) and think about the evidence they found. (Depending on the grade level, teachers may want to review students’ evidence charts in some way to ensure accuracy.) From here, students should develop a specific thesis statement. This could be done independently, with a partner, small group, or the entire class. Consider directing students to the following sites to learn more about thesis statements: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/ OR http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/ thesis_statement.shtml. 4. Students compose a rough draft. With regard to grade level and student ability, teachers should decide how much scaffolding they will provide during this process (i.e. modeling, showing example pieces, sharing work as students go). 5. Students complete final draft. • Sample Answer Bimbo’s actions consistently convey loyalty and risk through the selection The Dog of Pompeii. Several passages provide evidence that the relationship between boy and dog was an extraordinarily one. First of all, the reader learns about the duo’s daily routine. “It was a fixed routine, a custom understood between boy and dog since the beginning of their friendship, and the way it worked was this…. There was plenty of everything in Pompeii if you knew where to find it – and if you had a dog like Bimbo.” Most animals simply take care of the needs of themselves or offspring. This evidence proves Bimbo was loyal to Tito’s needs. Next, for Caesar’s birthday, the town was celebrating. With such disarray, Tito could have gotten lost in the crowd, but Bimbo guided him through it. “Tito and Bimbo were among the merrymakers, dodging the charioteers who shouted at them. Tito never missed a footing. He was thankful for his keen ears and quick instinct-most thankful of all for Bimbo. Bimbo assures that Tito is safe from the charioteers by helping him avoid their path.” He risks his life ensuring Tito’s safety. Finally, Tito shows the most significant event of loyalty and risk taking. “Then suddenly, he understood. Bimbo was telling him the way out-urging him there. The sea gate, or course. The sea gate—and then the sea. In a moment Bimbo was beside him. He coaxed. But there was no answer. He licked Tito’s hands, his feet, his face. The boy did not stir. Then Bimbo did the last thing he could – the last thing he wanted to do. He bit his comrade, bit him deep in the arm. With a cry of pain, Tito jumped to his feet, Bimbo after him.” Bimbo guides Tito in the direction of safety from disaster. Bimbo bites Tito to wake him up and keep him moving toward safety. Tito risked his life to keep Bimbo alive, never leaving his side. This demonstrates loyalty. Scientists who were excavating the site stated, “No. It must have come from this bakery. You know it looks to me like some sort of cake hardened with the years. And, bless me, if those little black pebbles aren’t raisins. A raisin cake almost two thousand years old! I wonder what made him want it at such a moment.” Bimbo went to bakery to find food. This shows that Bimbo was still thinking of Tito as the end and that his love for Tito was so strong that he went back where he knew it was dangerous, risking his life for his friend. Clearly, Tito demonstrates extraordinary loyalty and risk when it comes to his owner. His actions consistently showed these characteristics.

Additional Tasks • The Dog of Pompeii is a fictional story. However, Louis Untermeyer includes real people, places, and events to help bring his story to life. Read from “In Search of Pompeii” by Giovanni Caselli. Based on the information from the second text, evaluate Louis Untermeyer’s accuracy in describing Pompeii before, during, and after Mount Vesuvius erupted. o Answers may vary, but all should include a clear statement of how accurate the student believes the story to be; support for the statement with evidence; a clear method of organization. o The Dog of Pompeii does portray life in Pompeii very accurately. In The Dog of Pompeii a rich and lively city is described and in the information piece it says Pompeii had “splendid houses, beautiful paintings, sculptures of bronze and marble, fine glass, metal, and pottery” which describes a beautiful city. In addition both pieces contain information on chariots and shops with bathhouses. In “The Dog of Pompeii” a forum is described in the middle of the city, and the informational text verifies this. Finally, the informational text describes people who are twisted as they were running to get out of the city, and “The Dog of Pompeii” Bimbo and Tito are rushing out of the city along with a bunch of people.

Name _________________________________________________ Date _____________

“The Dog of Pompeii”

1. The setting of the story is introduced. Using evidence from the text, explain how being blind affects Tito while living in Pompeii?

2. Read the details about the forum. What does the description tell you about life in Pompeii?

3. The author uses the word “ambitious.” What does the word “ambitious” mean? How does its usage affect the meaning of the text?

4. Describe what it means to be “hurried by fear” drawing on evidence from the text. How does its usage affect the meaning of the text?

5. The author uses several similes and metaphors to describe the volcano erupting and the reaction of the people. What is the effect of using figurative language rather than just stating what is happening?

6. What attitude do you think the people of Pompeii have about their city? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

7. How does Bimbo’s reaction after the celebration reveal something has changed? What does this change signal to the reader?

8. Which details show you how the eruption has affected the forum and the town?

9. If you were to describe the relationship between Tito and Bimbo in one word, what would it be? Explain using evidence from the text?

10. What is the theme of the text? Cite words or phrases that develop the theme throughout the text.

11. Use evidence from the text to explain why Bimbo, Tito’s loyal companion, would bite his master?

12. Using evidence, explain how the relationship between Tito and Bimbo differs from that of a normal dog/boy relationship? Who benefits more from the relationship? How does this relationship develop the theme of the text?